Human bile microbiota: A retrospective study focusing on age and gender

AIMS

The emerging biliary colonization of microorganisms in patients with biliary diseases may be devastating. Recent evidence suggests that age and gender may influence changes in the microbial composition of gut microbiota. To study the relationship between these parameters on bile microbiota, we retrospectively reviewed positive bile cultures following an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in a QA-certified academic surgical unit of a single institution.

METHODS

449 positive bile cultures from 172 Italian patients with diseases of the biliopancreatic system hospitalized from 2006 through 2017 were investigated for aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal organisms. The patients were stratified into four age intervals (22-66, 67-74, 75-81, and 82-93 years) and followed up for five years.

RESULTS

Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) was negatively associated with age only in multivariate analysis (R_partial = -0.114, p = 0.017), with younger patients prone to harbor GPB and older patients likely to have Gram-negative bacteria (GNB). There was a definite link with the male gender using both univariate and multivariate analysis (p < 0.001). Enterococcus spp. was the most common strain identified in patients with GPB except for patients aged 67-74 years for male (95.2%) and female (80.9%) patients. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. were most frequent than others in every group analyzed. Analogous results were found for bacteria Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB), such as Pseudomonas spp. and Stenotrophomonas spp. apart of the 2nd quartile.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study strengthens the bond of age and gender with bile microbiota composition and suggests that further investigations may be required in targeting the aging microbiome. Other studies should also focus on Mediterranean epidemiological characteristics and antibiotic resistance surveillance system strategies.

Bactibilia in diseases of the biliary tract and pancreatic gland in patients older than 80 years: a STROBE-retrospective cohort study in a teaching hospital in Italy

Bile is a lipid-rich sterile solution produced in the liver that can be infected resulting in bactibilia. A higher incidence of postoperative infectious complications has been seen in patients with bactibilia. Recently, gram-negative bacteria have been linked to a tumor-associated inflammatory status. This study is a retrospective cohort study of 39 patients, who are over 80 years of age only (53.85% males and 46.15% females), hospitalized with diseases of the biliopancreatic system in one teaching hospital in Italy from January 2011 to December 2012 with a follow-up of 5 years. The most common biliary diseases after surgery were pancreatic head cancer (p < 0.0001) and gallbladder cancer (p = 0.0051), while the most common bacteria in the bile were E. coli (p = 0.0180) and Pseudomonas spp. (p < 0.0001). Uni- and multivariate linear correlation analysis revealed that patients with pancreatic head cancer had low survival times compared to patients with other diseases. Moreover, the bacterium type was a positive predictor of survival time compared to other variables. Our data confirm E. coli as a pathogen in patients with gallbladder and pancreatic cancer. Although the influence of bactibilia in developing surgical complications is limited, we consider that its composition is crucial to properly address the antibiotic treatment in biliary tract infections, especially in the elderly.

[Incidence of bacteria from cultures of bile and gallbladder wall of laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients in the University Hospital "Dr. José Eleuterio González"]

BACKGROUND

Through experience it has been accepted that bile in normal conditions remains sterile. Bactibilia is a common finding in individuals at high risk or with complicated cholecystolithiasis, however few data prevails about the prevalence of bactibilia in patients operated on for uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There is s common usage of preoperative and postoperative antibiotics in the different patients without the existence of any actual bacteriologic and epidemiologic evidence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

183 patients with diagnosis of cholecystolithiasis postoperated of laparoscopic cholecystectomy had their bile sent to bacteriology.

RESULTS

Bactibilia was identified in 31.95% of the cultures of mild cholecystitis and in 35.71% for moderate (p<.0001). A total of 125 negative cultures were obtained (68.3) and 58 positive (31.69%) with a prevalence of enterobacteria group (43.10%) and Enterococcus (27.58).

CONCLUSIONS

Comparing the groups according to severity there is a significant difference with regard to the presence of bactibilia, in addition to the bacterial groups cultivated. Fluoroquinolones and metronidazole is an option for the treatment of patients with the suspicion of bactibilia. The use of antibiotics is not justified in patients at low risk.

Cytological Findings of 140 Bile Samples from Dogs and Cats and Associated Clinical Pathological Data

Background

Cholecystocentesis can be part of the diagnostic workup of hepatobiliary disease in small animals, but literature on cytological evaluation of bile is scant.

Objectives

To determine the diagnostic utility of cytological assessment of bile aspirates.

Animals

Fifty‐six and 78 client‐owned dogs and cats, respectively, with bile collected by cholecystocentesis and submitted to our diagnostic laboratory between 1999 and 2014.

Methods

Retrospective study describing cytological findings of bile, concurrent bacterial culture results, hematological and serum biochemical data, gallbladder biopsy results, as well as final diagnosis and complications after cholecystocentesis.

Results

Infectious agents were found in 30% of canine and 22% of feline bile aspirates, and inflammation in 5% and 19% respectively. Presence of microorganisms was more often detected on cytological examination (24%) than by culture (21%). The most common bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp., isolated from 14.8% and 6.7% of cultured samples respectively. Only increased canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentration (cPLI) was significantly associated with the presence of microorganisms, inflammatory cells, or both in bile. Clinically relevant complications of cholecystocentesis occurred in 2 dogs. The majority of the animals undergoing cholecystocentesis suffered from hepatic, pancreatic, gastrointestinal disease, or a combination thereof.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Cytological examination of bile is inexpensive and straightforward, and yields diagnostically relevant information that precedes and complements bacterial culture.